Beware: Children at Play (1989)

A mentally-disturbed teenager kidnaps and brainwashes children into cannibalistic psychopaths - but not when the adults intervene.

Director:

Mik Cribben

Writer:

Fred Scharkey (screenplay) (as Fred Sharkey)

Stars:

Michael Robertson, Rich Hamilton, Robin Lilly

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Robertson	...	John DeWolfe
Rich Hamilton	...	Sheriff Ross Carr
Robin Lilly	...	Cleo Carr
Lori Romero	...	Julia DeWolfe (as Lori Tirgrath)
Jamie Krause	...	Kara DeWolfe
Sunshine Barrett	...	Mary Rose Carr
Mark Diekman	...	Luke Domain
Mik Cribben	...	Farmer Isac Braun
Susann Chandler	...	Mrs. Mary Braun
Herb Klinger	...	Franklin Ludwig
Lauren Cloud	...	Dale Hawthorn
Lorna Courtney	...	Amy Carr / Wealtheow
Danny McClaughlin	...	Grendel / Glenn Randall
Stephanie Jaworski	...	Alice Allegari
Lee Kayman	...	Josiah Modicah

Storyline

After several children have gone missing, a writer and a cop decide to get to the bottom of the problem once and for all. As they find more and more leads they discover that their children are being brainwashed into zombified cannibal killers by a disturbed teen.

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Plot Keywords:

human sacrifice | child murderess | bloody body of a child | filicide | blond boy | 

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Taglines:

These Aren't Children...They Are Demons!

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and gore, and for some sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Troma

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Also Known As:

Goblins

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Troma Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

[All trivia items for this title are spoilers.]

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Crazy Credits

Top-billed actor Michael Robertson is billed as 'Michael Robinson' in the opening credits.

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Alternate Versions

An unrated video release was made which features brutal and graphic murders of small children not seen in the R Rated version.

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Connections

Referenced in Fear, Panic & Censorship (2000)

User Reviews

What the hell else did you expect- it's Troma.

After reading some of the outraged viewer comments I decided to write give my 1 cent. I am a 31 year old b-horror movie obsessed freak that still lives with his parents- so maybe that explains my taste in absolute trash. Over the years I have obtained a collection of dvds, videos, and laserdiscs that puts most video stores to shame (of course that is not saying much these days with Blockbuster and Hollywood video stores horrible horror section). Since I couldn't rent this at the time I bought this, I purchased this after seeing some clips of children being shot in really unrealistic fashion I couldn't resist.

The key is this- very campy. All you "Grudge-Ring-I know What You Did Last Summer with Van Helsing" fans will probably not "get it". What is there to get, you may ask? It's just funny, funny that a movie was put together professionally, shot on 35 mm film, that has scenes where children get shot on screen and they actually use squibs (some of you know what squibs are). Yes, you can see the kids breathing, strings connected arrows, and blood tubes, etc. But that's why I bought it.

So, the film as a whole is not that entertaining, but the death sequences are worth it for you fans of the bottom of the barrel films. Have fun. I'm going to go back to my room before my mom asks me to take the trash out.